Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) is helped up after being injured during the final play of the first half of game four of the first round of the NBA playoff series at Toyota Center, Sunday, April 24, 2016, in Houston. ( Karen Warren / Houston Chronicle ) less

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) is helped up after being injured during the final play of the first half of game four of the first round of the NBA playoff series at Toyota Center, Sunday, April ... more

Photo: Karen Warren, Houston Chronicle

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The extent of Stephen Curry’s injury was unknown when he hobbled out of the locker room Sunday.

The extent of Stephen Curry’s injury was unknown when he hobbled out of the locker room Sunday.

Photo: Michael Ciaglo, Houston Chronicle

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Stephen Curry has yet to resume shooting, but has begun working out and riding a stationary bike while his knee recovers.

Stephen Curry has yet to resume shooting, but has begun working out and riding a stationary bike while his knee recovers.

Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez, The Chronicle

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Curry on knee injury: ‘That could have been 10 times worse’

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As Stephen Curry watched video of the final play of the first half Sunday in Houston — the way Rockets forward Donatas Motiejunas fell and slid across the court moments before Curry slipped in the same area — he had one vivid, recurring thought:

A sprained knee doesn’t seem so bad, after all.

“It was just kind of an unlucky break,” he said Friday. “I’ve watched it, and I just feel really blessed to have gotten out of that situation with only an MCL sprain. That could have been 10 times worse.

“I had some angels protecting me and keeping me light on my feet. ... That’s why I’ve been really optimistic and kind of joyful about the situation, knowing I’ll be back on the floor with my teammates soon.”

Curry, in his first extended interview since his injury — and since learning Monday that he would be sidelined for at least two weeks — hopes to return sooner than May 9, the date his status will be re-evaluated.

Curry spoke to a small group of reporters after the team’s practice in Oakland. He said he’s feeling better after getting treatment (mostly ice) three times a day this week in an attempt to recover full range of motion in his knee.

He started riding a stationary bike Thursday and has spent time in the weight room trying to maintain his strength. He acknowledged pain in the knee prevents him from taking shots, though he hopes to resume his routine in the next few days.

Asked about the team’s timeline for his return to the playoffs, Curry said, “I hope to get back sooner (than two weeks). Having talked to the doctors and the athletic training staff and all the experts, that two-week timeline was, as Bob (Myers) said, an educated guess on other situations where guys had the same injury. Obviously, everyone heals differently.

“So whether it’s before two weeks, after two weeks or right at two weeks, the plan is to stay the same. Every day I’m getting treatment and trying to do what I need to do to get back on the floor. And when my body says it’s time, then we’ll push that button.”

The NBA on Friday released the schedule for Golden State’s second-round series, in advance of Game 6 between Portland and the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday night. The Warriors and Portland will open the series at Oracle Arena on Sunday at 12:30 p.m., and Game 4 will be played May 9 — the target for Curry’s re-evaluation.

So it seems safe to assume he will miss at least the first three games of the series, and maybe more.

“I guess I won’t wait until whatever 100 percent is; obviously there’s a sense of urgency with the playoffs,” he said. “But I won’t rush it to the point where I’m putting myself in danger.”

Curry may have unwittingly put himself at risk Wednesday night, while celebrating on the bench during his team’s series-clinching, 114-81 rout of Houston. At one point, Curry lifted teammate Ian Clark off the floor.

This seemed a tad ambitious for a player trying to recover from a sprained knee.

“That was kind of an electric moment,” he said. “That was taking it a little too far, but we were having fun. I was reminded quickly after I picked him up that it was not a good idea.”

For the record, Curry said his knee — not a teammate or trainer — reminded him not to lift Clark.

In the meantime, he’s optimistic the Warriors will forge ahead without him. They played exceptionally well in the last six quarters of the Rockets series, after Curry went down — outscoring Houston 179-119 during that time.

“I have the utmost faith and confidence in the 14 other guys on this team,” he said. “I only played 38 minutes in the first round, and we finished it in five games. So they’re a very capable group without me.

“Obviously, I’d like to be out there with them, and I feel like we’re a better team when I’m out there, but the way they’ve played — their confidence and swagger — it’s fun to watch. We’re going to need that same energy, focus and confidence going into the next round.

“Hopefully, we’ll get off to a good start and get back to full strength as soon as possible.”